Phospherous or not to Phospherous

[Frank Castle]

Ok, I am trying to clear this up. What is the take on phosperous. It seems to be a mixed review. Some places/people say that you should NOT use phosphorus and calcium. I have also read that Chams benefit and should be supplimented with 2:1 Calciumhospherous. From what I understand is that the phosphorus helps in the absorbtion of the calcium?

What is the answer, Phospherous, or NO phospherous in calcium suppliments?

Thanks Guys

Frank

 

[Jordan]

My vet also had mentioned the 2:1 ratio in the same context as you. I personally do not supplement phosphorus. I have veileds which eat vegation daily. All plant leaves are extremely high in phosphorus (up to 40%) as this is the main ingredient in photosynthesis. I try to keep their gut loading in the realm of 2:1. I would say it is impossible to know how much phosphorus the chameleons are actually getting form the plants as most animals cannot even attempt to break down vegation fully because of the chloroplast. With the calcium supplements I dust with twice a week (with my adults), the vegation they already eat and the gut loading I provide I would say there is no need to use a phosphorus supplement with veiled chameleons.

 

[kinyonga]

Phosphorous, calcium, vitamin D3 and vitamin A are the main players in bone health. If you read the following articles it may help you to understand the relationship...

http://www.chameleonjournals.com/vet/index.php?show=6.Vitamin.D3.and.Calcium.html
http://www.chameleonjournals.com/vet/index.php?show=5.Vitamin.A.html

This one might help too...
http://exoticpets.about.com/gi/dyna...xoticpets&zu=http://www.anapsid.org/mbd2.html

Gutloading can also sway the balance when done properly. I use lots of greens and veggies, etc. I feed the chameleons much the same mixture with the addition of fruit.

I can only relate to you my own experience with veileds...I gutload the insects well. For adult veileds, I dust the insects a couple of times a week with a phosphorous free calcium powder. I use a vitamin/mineral powder twice a month (the kind that has a beta carotene source of vitamin A) and because my chameleons don't get any direct sunlight, I use a calcium/D3 powder twice a month lightly on the insects too. Most of my veiled females live to be over 6 and most of my males live to be even older, they reproduce and the eggs hatch rate has been 100% with 95% of the babies still alive at the age of two months. I have raised many to adulthood and they show no signs of MBD.

Hope this helps!